Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez advised Barack Obama on Thursday night to focus on the needs of US citizens rather than spending billions on overseas meddling.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting the recently re-elected south American leader advised his US counterpart to "dedicate himself to governing his country and forget dividing and invading other nations."
Mr Chavez branded the superpower "a divided, socially fractured country with a super-elite exploiting the people."
He also said that private businesses in Venezuela should not be afraid of his government.
"Come and invest," he said. "Don't believe the fairy tale that we're going to expropriate you."
State elections take place in Venezuela on December 16.
Seven of the 23 governorships are currently held by the opposition.